This study was conducted to investigate the morphological development of the Helmeted Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) gastrointestinal tract pre-and post-hatch. Eighty seven (87) eggs were purchased from the Poultry unit of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), out of which eighty one (81) were used for pre-hatch and six (6) were allowed to hatch for post hatch studies. The development was recorded daily at pre-hatch while it was observed at day 1 and 8 at posthatch. The result revealed that at day 8 of incubation a digestive tube appeared with a roundish structure in the middle of the tube. By day 10 Development of GIT of Helmeted Guinea Fowl Gosomji et al.that days 8-13 of incubation are the most critical period for the gross formation of the GIT in the guinea fowl.

ABSTRACT

A total of one hundred and seventy-three fertilized eggs were used for morphometry, gross and histological studies. At day 4 of incubation, the mean body weight of the helmeted guinea fowl embryo was 0.6401 ± 0.0211 g. It was at day 10 of incubation that there was an increase in the whole body weight of the embryo to be 0.8650 ± 0.676 g. The whole brain weight indicated relative increased at day 4 as compared to that of the whole body weight. Graphically, there were steady increase in the body, brain and optic lobe weights. Histologically, cells and neurones that make up the optic lobe is probably as a result of the migration of immature cells from the ventricular neuroepithelium.

This study was carried out to investigate the development of the midbrain in the grey breasted helmeted guinea fowl. Domestication of grey helmeted guinea fowl is increase but scanty documentation on the development of midbrain (mesencephalon) and how it relates to the neurobiology of this bird is lacking. A total of sixty six (66) fertilized guinea fowl eggs were purchased from National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria and used for this study. Grossly, in the wild grey breasted helmeted guinea fowl, the optic lobe develops following development of midbrain and the midbrain appeared first on day 10 of incubation flank by the optic lobes on each sides. There was steady increase in the weights of the midbrain up to day 28 of incubation. This was expressed graphically at pre-hatch period which went up at day 17 and dropped at day 20 of incubation. Significant increases (P ≤ 0.0001) of the midbrain were seen on days 23 and 26. This indicates that as body and brain weights were increasing, there was a concurrent increase in midbrain weight. Morphologically, the midbrain was fully developed at pre-hatch period. This indicates that contribution from optic lobe to auditory-visual systems is fully developed in the wild grey breasted helmeted guinea fowl immediately after hatching and is capable of surviving independently.

(Folia Morphol 2016; 75, 4: 527-535

Congenital abnormalities are common among avian and mammalian species. They could be partial or total drift from the normal structural organization of the organ-systems. This article is aimed at reporting the occurrence of multiple abnormalities in a 3-week-old broiler chick. Ante mortem, post-mortem, radiological and osteological investigations were carried out, to ascertain the number and form of abnormalities present in the chick. A total of four different congenital abnormalities were discovered in this chick. These include: polymelia (presence of supernumerary or accessory limb which is usually malformed); double vents (vent duplex); double cloacal bursae (bursa duplex) and triple caeca. Radiological and postmortem examinations revealed the attachment of the accessory limb to the caudal depressor muscle as a form of synsarcosis, via a tendon that originated from the deep fossa of the modified femoral head of the accessory limb. The right vent was patent whereas the left was not. The two cloacal bursae were almost the same size, while the three caeca showed slight variation in length but typical features of the avian caecum (base, middle (body) and apex) were clearly visible. However, most cases of congenital anomalies in the avian species occur as multiple defects, with the most common being polymelia. The latest finding in this report is the discovery of double cloacal bursae (bursae of Fabricius), which has not been reported in the avian species.

The study was carried out to investigate the development of the midbrain in the grey breasted helmeted guinea fowl, Numida meleagris galeata, at post-hatch. Domestication of this species of bird is in an increase, but scanty documentation on the development of midbrain (mesencephalon) and how it relates to the neurobiology of this bird is lacking. In our findings, there was a steady increase in the midbrain mean weights found to be 0.0418 ± 0.0081 and 0.2236 ± 0.0224 g on the first day and day 61 post-hatch, respectively. Morphological and cellular development shows the midbrain to develop immediately after hatch at day one. This indicates that auditory-visual activities are fully functional in the wild grey breasted helmeted guinea fowl and capable of independent survival immediately after hatching.

Parrot population in Africa is declining and the need for conservation actions to address threats is increasingly recognized. The situation is worst in Nigeria and if care is not taken, this species of bird will soon go into instinct. The essence of this study was to obtain a database of some body organs of the wild Senegal parrot, a species of bird that is limited in its distribution in this part of the country. Documentation on this species of bird is rare despite they are being hunted for because of its demand as ornamental bird. The mean weights (whole body, gastrointestinal tract (GIT), content and GIT empty) were observed to be 120.50 ± 5.42 g, 18.01 ± 4.80 g and 13.54 ± 5.51 respectively. The liver had mean weight of 4.18 ± 1.82 while the tongue, lower respiratory system (LRS), heart and kidney were observed to be, 2.76 ± 2.14 g, 5.83 ± 1.65, 1.81 ± 0.65 and 0.41 ± 0.05 g. The mean length (whole body + tail) were observed to be 9.85 ± 1.20 cm. The mean lengths (GIT, liver tongue and LRS) were 82.62 ± 2.36 cm, 4.33 ± 1.82 cm, 2.04 ± 0.99 cm and 12.69 ± 2.10 cm respectively with GIT and LRS accounting for 76.93 % and 19.97 % of the body weight. The syrinx is very large suggesting pronounced sound production and the large intestine is void of cecum.